Towson University - Tower Echoes Yearbook (Towson, MD)

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THE TOWER LIGHT he began a minute inspection. Suddenly an ejaculation of surprise es- caped his lips. What is it? asked his wife, bending down in order to keep from missing anything. Why, it's a package, addressed to you-and it has never been o ened! he cried. Looks like another one of Sparky's pranks, he added brightly. Well, go on, open it, commanded his wife, impatiently. With clumsy fingers Mr. Wifllebottom untied the strings and tore off the muddy paper. Here's a note inside, he said, handing it to his wife to read. Eagerly, she tore open the envelope while her husband delved curiously into the contents of the package. ' 'Can you beat it? asked Mr. Wifllebottom. Well, I do declare! beamed Mrs. Wifllebottom. . Look here, said both, simultaneously. He took the letter and began to read. CAn exact reproduction of that epistle is given below.j May 26, 19- DEAR MARIA! I thought I had better write you a. short note letting you know when I will visit you this spring. The Erst two weeks of next month would suit me very well. However, if you are planning something else at that time, I suppose that will be all right. But these are the only two weeks I have open so if it is unsuitable for me to come then, I'll have to put off my visit till another year. If you do not have other plans, write and let me know what time you will meet me at the station. As you know, I have not completely recovered from my operation, and the doctor said not to overdo. By the way, I have sent a package of pills for Egbert. He had such trouble with his stomach from overeating last time that I am sure these will do him no harm. Aifectionately, MAMIE. Mr. Wiflflebottom chuckled. Why, Maria, it's way past the mid- dle of june now, and-, but he was talking to thin air. Maria was nowhere to be seen-nor, for that matter was S arky. But in the kitchen could be heard noises that sounded remarkablly like a mixture of a pet dog being fed the choicest pieces left of the fresh ham that ordinarily would not be touched until the Sunday dinner and a female voice mur- muring endearing phrases to this same dog. Mr. Wifllebottom smiled. Walking over to the window, he deftly tossed the package of pills into the yard. Chuckling, he resumed his meal. GBRTRUDE G. JOHNS, Sopla. 1. A12

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THE TOWER LIGHT streamed down his bulbous cheeks and another button fell to its fate. Mrs. Wiillebottom stopiped in her tracks. Her face, once red, was fast becoming a royal sha e of purlple. Her mouth twitched, then opened. But, for once she was speech ess--with rage. Oh, I've n-never seen anything so funny in all my born days, panted her husband. A At that, Mrs. WifHebottom's voice returned. Egbert, she said slowly and clearly, to make certain that her words made the correct impression, there's only one thing to be done. That dog must go. He is ruining my garden. And what's more-just this morning Mrs. Jones brought one of your best nightshirts over. She said she had snatched it away from Sparky who was about to deposit it in the midst of her rose-bushes! The only way out of this perpetual tor- nient is to get rid of him. Sell him-lose him-anything, only get rid o him! But, Maria, isn't there something else that can be done? I-I just couldn't art with him now. I-we understand one another. I couldn't do it, plleaded Mr. Wifflebottom. But his wife was determined, and he knew her well enough to realize that once her mind was made up, it stayed that way. Very well, said Mr. Wifflebottom, resignedly. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find a good family for him. Make sure that this unfortunate family has no turnip-beds, was his wife's parting shot. wk Pk PK Sl! I wonder why Mamie hasn't written to tell us when she is com- ing to visit us, mused Mr. Wifflebottom at the dinner table that eve- nin . gMrs. Wifilebottom shuddered. Please don't bring up that subject, Egbert. You know how I dread her visits. I spend two weeks of ab- solute misery while she's here. Why, last time she did nothing but complain of the number of stitches the doctor put in her after the oper- ation. Really, I don't see why she insists on visiting us every year, do you, Egbert? Egbert! I'm speaking to y-, merciful heavens ! This apparently extraordinary remark was not really extraordinary at all. I'm quite sure that if you had been there, you, too, would have said merciful heavens. Standing in the doorway, and wagging his tail happily, was the pride of Mr. Wifllebottom's heart. Gripped tightly in his mouth was an object of no particular size or dimensions. Trailing from one of Sparky's cocky ears was a long, betraying turnip-top! Mr. Wifilebottom was the first to recover. Jumping up from the table, incidentally spilling his coffee in his haste, he ran toward the dog. After retrieving the as yet unidentined object from unwilling Sparky, 11

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THE TOWER LIGHT A Short Short Story WALKED leisurely down a rather quiet street of our somewhat busy downtown, late one afternoon. Very few people were in sight, and those I could see were not interesting or in the least bit conspicuous. Then be appeared. Say, buddy, have you got a minute? Now, it's not that I didn't have a minute, but I didn't see what difference it made to him, so Icon- .tinued walking. ' I don't blame you for running away, he said as he clung to me like a wet bathing suit. My gosh! did the fellow think I was running away? Nevertheless, I walked a little faster. Did he stop? No, I should say not! I thought I had long legs. Well, I know better now. I'd never talk to you like this, he panted, only I never been in sucah circumstances before. Well, he had nothing on me, neither ha I. I When I'm telling you I never done this before, it's the God's truth, sir. Horrors! What had the fellow done now, and what had God to do with it anyhow! This was getting serious. I could appreci- ate the colors of John Law at this time. I perspired freely, and uncon- sciously I had broken into a rather awkward hop, skip, and run. Persistent is a mild word with which to describe him but what could Ido! I could think of no better word at the time. Who was this -this-this he? I believe that in another moment I would have begun my paternoster. He started to talk again, this time gaspin . I could tell he was weakening for I was breathing more smoothly. CgThanks to my clean living.j . Well, pal, you've got me, he said. I've worked hard all my life for what I've wanted. I've dug ditches. I've swung an axe. I've lifted bundles which were heavy enough to break a horse's back, but never have I had to run a two-mile Marathon! Now mister, will you please show me the way to get to Washington Boulevard? ISADORE COHEN, Fourtlz Year Senior. 9i I cannot understand, the Young Man at College wrote to his parent, how you can consider yourself a kind father. You haven't sent me a check in three weeks. What sort of kindness do you call that? The father's reply was brief. Dear son, he wrote, that's un- remitting kindness. -The American Boy 13